Health & Safety Policy

The Bridge considers health and safety to be of utmost importance. We comply with The  Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations            1992 at all times.

The Bridge has appropriate insurance cover, including employer’s liability insurance and public  liability insurance.

Each member of staff follows The Bridge’s Health and Safety policy and is responsible for:

  • Maintaining a safe environment

  • Taking reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and others attending The Bridge

  • Reporting all accidents and incidents which have caused injury or damage or may do so in the future

  • Undertaking relevant health and safety training when required to do so by the manager.

Any member of staff who disregards safety instructions or recognised safe practices will be subject to disciplinary procedures.

This Policy

This policy is designed in order to provide and maintain safe and healthy working conditions, equipment and work methods for all employees and users of The Bridge. 

We shall provide all necessary information and training to staff and maintain a programme to foster the awareness of health, safety and welfare issues. 

The allocation of duties for safety matters and the specific arrangements to implement this policy are set out below. This policy and the way in which it operates will be reviewed by the Operations Manager

This policy was updated in June 2024.

References in this policy to staff includes both paid employees and volunteers.

Responsibilities 

1.1 Overall responsibility for health and safety at The Bridge rests with the Operations Manager. In their absence, The Bridge’s board assumes responsibility.

1.2 The Safety Officer, in conjunction with the Grounds Manager as appropriate, is responsible for:

  • liaising with the Royal Borough of Greenwich Council over health and safety as appropriate

  • ensuring that The Bridge has adequate cover under the Employers’ Liability Act 1969 and Public Liability insurance. 

  • arranging the following: safety training; safety inspections; monitoring of the maintenance of equipment; first aid training; and investigation of accidents.

  • carrying out Risk Assessments of work practices, use of equipment and other hazards in accordance with HSE Risk Assessment guidelines. Risk assessments will be undertaken every two years. 

  • Maintaining a health and safety file (including any issues or details relating to asbestos)

  • Ensuring a copy of the current Health and Safety At work poster is displayed (poster is available here: http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/lawposter.htm )

  • All staff receiving information on health and safety matters (and training where necessary)

  • Regularly reviewing the Health and Safety policy and procedures 

  • Ensuring staff understand and follow health and safety procedures.

  • Providing resources to meet The Bridge’s health and safety responsibilities including evacuation, fire detection and control and suitable resourcing.

  • Ensuring all accidents, incidents and dangerous occurrences are properly reported and recorded. This includes informing Ofsted, child protection agencies and the Health and Safety Executive under RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995) where appropriate.

  • Reviewing all reported accidents, incidents and dangerous occurrences are reviewed, so that preventative measures can be taken.

  • Ensuring that annual checks are carried out in relation to all equipment/devices including (but not limited to) all electrical devices, fans, heaters, air conditioning etc 

and ensuring that at each session 

  • Premises are clean, well lit, adequately ventilated and generally well maintained and suitable for use.

  • The premises are used by and solely available to The Bridge/its hirers during opening hours

  • All of The Bridge’s equipment is safely and securely stored

  • A working telephone is available on the premises at all times

  • Chemicals and cleaning materials are stored appropriately, and in accordance with COSHH data sheets.

  • External pathways are cleared in severe weather

1.3 All employees have the responsibility to develop, within the staff team, measures to achieve a healthy and safe workplace and to take reasonable care of themselves and others. 

1.4 All employees are responsible for health and safety within their area of work. They will put right a hazard or unsafe work practice as soon as they notice it or have it reported to them. If a hazard cannot be put right, it should be reported to the Safety Officer and the piece of equipment or area of the Centre should be closed down until it is safe to re-use.

2 Covid 19 Additional procedures 

2.1 When restrictions are in place due to Covid 19, working conditions will be reviewed as necessary.

3 Accidents and incidents 

3.1 The Appointed Person responsible for taking charge in an emergency is the Operations Manager.

3.2 During Stay and Play sessions emergencies will be managed in the first instance by the volunteer leading the session; during other hire sessions, the relevant hirer will manage the emergency in the first instance. In both scenarios the Operations Manager is to be contact as soon as reasonably possible.

 3.3 A trained First Aider will be on duty at all times during Stay and Play sessions.

3.4 The Operations Manager is responsible for maintaining the First Aid box.

3.5 The Operations Manager is responsible for reporting accidents and diseases notifiable under RIDDOR.  Guidance on what should be notified is available on www.hse.gov.uk, this site should also be used for reporting. Notifiable incidents and diseases etc include various work-related accidents, diseases and dangerous occurrences need to be notified such as   - death or major injury, injury resulting in someone being unable to work for more than 3 days, work related diseases, and a “dangerous occurrence” injury which results in a member of public being taken to hospital. 

3.6 The Operations Manager is responsible for maintaining an Incident Log and documenting all accidents etc

3.7 The First Aid box is located in the kitchen area of The Bridge. It contains the First Aid manual and list of harmful substances (COSHH record).

 3.8 The Incident Logbook is in the cleaning supplies cupboard. 

4 General Fire Safety 

4.1 The Safety Officer is responsible for Fire Safety arrangements; these include ensuring that there are adequate signed escape routes from the building and that Fire Action notices are kept up to date. 

4.2 All employees have a duty to be aware of the Fire Action instructions and the location of Fire Alarms. 

4.3 Reign Secure (as contracted by RBG) are responsible for quarterly checks of the fire alarm. The Operations Manager will be responsible for monthly checks of fire exit signs

4.4 Fire extinguishers are serviced annually in September by BHT Fire Protection 

4.5 There will be a fire drill once a year. A form will be completed by the Operations Manager after the drill noting evacuation time and any problems encountered. 

5 Hygiene 

5.1 The Operations Manager is responsible for ensuring that performance of cleaning duties by the cleaner.  

5.2 All volunteers are responsible for washing up cups and plates. 

6 Floors, gangways and position of furniture & equipment 

6.1 Floors, gangways and spaces underneath furniture must be kept clear of trailing cables and other obstructions. 

6.2 Furniture and equipment must be positioned so that it does not pose a hazard to passers-by and so that wheelchair users are able to have safe access to all equipment. Filing cabinets and cupboard doors should be kept closed. 

7 Safe Practices 

7.1 All employees should move around the Centre and open doors with due care and generally behave with consideration towards other staff and Centre users. 

7.2 All employees should follow Manual Handling procedures and take care that users do not run the risk of injury through bad lifting techniques or failure to use trolleys. 

8 General welfare 

8.1 The Operations Manager is responsible for measures to enhance the general welfare of staff and users, including considerations such as temperature, ventilation, general noise levels, lighting and provision of suitable computer chairs and accessories in the Centre. 

8.2 The Operations Manager should ensure that users are aware of the law banning smoking and vaping in enclosed work premises. 

9 Electricity 

9.1 The Main switches are in soft play storage room (This cupboard must be kept closed/monitored and children not allowed.  

9.2 The Operations Manager should ensure that Electric Shock Action notices are in place. 

10 Equipment and Machinery 

10.1 Equipment used by groups inside the Centre 

10.1.1 The Operations Manager is responsible for ensuring electrical cables, plugs and connections are regularly serviced (NB The Bridge’s lease with RBG states that RBG has responsibility for the repair etc of the heating system/main boiler; otherwise the responsibility lies with The Bridge.)

10.1.2 The Operations Manager is responsible for ensuring that users know how to use equipment correctly and when to ask for help. The Operations Manager must ensure that groups are using the equipment safely and are not causing potential hazards to other users and visitors or to staff. 

10.1.3 Equipment must be used and serviced or cleaned in accordance with the manufacturers’ instructions

10.2 Equipment for hire  

10.2.1 The Grounds Manager is responsible for checking all hire equipment when it is returned to the Centre. These checks cover electrical and general safety such as broken or damaged parts. 

11 Dangerous Substances 

11.1 The Operations Manager is responsible for carrying out a COSHH assessment of all substances in use or stored in the Centre and for ensuring that all employees are fully aware of listed substances. The Bridge does not currently use or store any notifiable Major Hazard substances. 

11.2 The Operations Manager should adhere to appropriate COSHH advice and guidance.  

12 Personal Safety 

12.1 The Operations Manager is responsible for the implementation of the Lone Worker policy and dealing with any other queries, concerns etc regarding staff safety.

12.2 Parents and carers should be reminded where necessary that they retain responsibility for their children on site.

12.3 During Stay and Play and hire sessions all external gates are kept locked. 

12.4 All visitors to the site (other than those attending Stay and Play/hire session) must sign the Visitor Log and give the reason for their visit. Visitors will       never be left alone with the children.

12.5 Security procedures will be regularly reviewed by the Operations Manager.

13 Toys and equipment

13.1 All furniture, toys and equipment are to be kept clean, well maintained and in good repair. Broken toys and equipment are disposed of promptly.

14 Food and personal hygiene 

14.1 The Bridge will ensure that it provides, for its hirers and attendees:

  • A generally clean environment is maintained at all times.

  • Toilets are cleaned daily, and soap and hand drying facilities are always available.

  • Waste is disposed of safely and all bins are kept covered

Health & Safety Executive (for technical advice or interpretation of guidance) www.hse.gov.uk/contact/information-advice.htm 

Reportable incidents advice: www.hse.gov.uk/riddor/report.htm

This policy was adopted by The Bridge on 25/06/2024

Reviewed on 28/07/2025